The Wheel of Time Casting Call (Take 2) Introduction

Okay, so I’m back, and I have figured out how this is going to work, and thought I would let those of you reading know what’s going on, so you have an idea what to expect.

Basically, with the help of some kind people over at Theoryland Forums, I have set up a ranking system for most of the major players in the Wheel of Time. Here is the criteria I used to rank characters.

Tier One Characters are arguably the story’s ‘main characters’ – those who the plot and premise of the Wheel of Time revolve around. There may be a couple names in here that look out of place, but I will explain them if questions arise. Tier One Characters are (in alphabetical order by first name):

Tier Two Characters are characters who are the major instigators of sub-plots, have lots of close connections with Tier One Characters, and who play major roles throughout most of the series, in some way or another. They are (again, alphabetically):

Tier Three Characters were the trickiest to come up with, because with 1800 named characters in this series, I could make tons of tiers, but I needed this one to be the last major tier I cast. The criteria for characters belonging to this tier are that they have to have contributed to the sub-plots in significant ways, either through politicking, constant ‘screen time,’ or manipulating events to work out in specific ways. This is by far the largest of the tiers. Observe:

Tier Four Characters are people I feel need to be casted whether or not they’ve significantly contributed to the story (though some have, just in subtle ways, such as Noam) – it could probably be argued that this Tier is basically my favorites that didn’t make it onto the previous Tier, but I want to cast anyway. 😉 Here you go:

So, a few notes about who I left out. I left out the leaders of all the Houses that competed with Elayne for the Rose Crown, I left out most of Liandrin’s original Thirteen, and tons of other named Aes Sedai who haven’t really had a part worth mentioning in the story, and it is probably very obvious that I have left out any Sea Folk – I’m unsure of any of their contributions to the story (other than as a passive-aggressive-almost-antagonistic role, if such a thing exists)

I would like you guys to let me know (if you care) whether or not any of those in there you really, really think need casting. Or, if you want someone not mentioned above, please tell me why. Some of the characters may actually be important in some way, but I just don’t think most fans (once again) would really care who played them – the actor/actress wouldn’t make or break the movie, in other words.

As a final note, I only made Tier Three and Tier Four separate for my arbitrary listing patterns – I will actually be combining them for the casting call itself. I will start with Tier Three/Four characters, going through about eight per post (in alphabetical order), then will move up to Tier Two, before ending with Tier One. I hope to have the first post up by the end of next week (Friday-ish).

I see what you’re saying, but when we look at a series like Wheel of Time, especially one with such ‘Magnetic Plot Devices’ as ta’veren and ‘The Pattern’ go, if we took account for that aspect of Lan’s importance, we would have to do so for everyone. Because, couldn’t it be argued that The Pattern moved around a lot to make sure that Almen Bunt appeared in The Eye of the World – being just the right person who would give Rand and Mat a lift without turning them into the darkfriends and fades around?

Lan is very important, and could possibly at least be moved up to Tier Two (and I’ve actually already been thinking of that), but just because he could, I don’t know yet that he should. After all, though he’s been a major character in terms of supporting various plots, he isn’t actually any sort of instigator of plots, which is one of the criteria for Tier Two characters. But please, let me know if I’m completely wrong on that, as he’s a little further down the alphabetical line anyway, so it would be awhile before I got to casting him.

Lan should definitely move up at least to Tier 2 because:
1. He trained Rand to use the sword which is an integral part of the story
2. He taught Rand to stand on his own, gave him his backbone so to speak, just before Rand’s first meeting with the Amyrlin in Fal Dara
3. Rand keeps repeating Lan’s mantra “Death is lighter than a feather, duty heavier than a mountain” which he uses as basis for his actions.
4. Lan is the reason why Nynaeve is able to channel at will